OT: A defective Smart Meter

[Mike Ruddock]

Our house was fitted with a so-caled smart meter a few years ago.
A couple of weeks ago I noticed that it wasn't working properly:
although it was telling me the electricity consumption, there was no
info about the gas. After fiddling with it for a while with no result I
went to look at the "real" gas meter. That also was giviung no reading
for gas consumption.

I contacted Gritish Bas and they investigated remotely and agreed that
there was a problem which they would sort.

Yesterday, things still being thus this way, I contacted BG again,
pointing out to them that it is surely illegal if a consumer cannot find
out how much he is consuminmg. Again I was told to leave it to them.

Until this is fixed presumably they will be making estimates about my
consumption.

Is anybody else thus afflicted?

Mike Ruddock

[Jenny M Benson]

Post by Mike Ruddock
Our house was fitted with a so-caled smart meter a few years ago.
although it was telling me the electricity consumption, there was no
info about the gas. After fiddling with it for a while with no result I
went to look at the "real" gas meter. That also was giviung no reading
for gas consumption.
I contacted Gritish Bas and they investigated remotely and agreed that
there was a problem which they would sort.
Yesterday, things still being thus this way, I contacted BG again,
pointing out to them that it is surely illegal if a consumer cannot find
out how much he is consuminmg. Again I was told to leave it to them.
Until this is fixed presumably they will be making estimates about my
consumption.
Is anybody else thus afflicted?

Not the same affliction, but my latest bill (from E-on) gave an exact
figure for electricity and an estimated one for gas. (Why? I wonder.)
Can remember nothing of the instructions I was given for the smart meter
thingy which sits on my hall table, so I just ignore it (apart from
yelling obscenities at it occasionally when I see it flashing red lights
at me just because I had the nerve to put the kettle on). Went out to
check the gas meter and found it was a completely different one to what
was there last time I looked, which could be quite a long time ago. I
suppose they changed the meter when I went smart?

Well, the problem was that the new meter looks very impressive, all
white with lots of numbered buttons in different colours and a little
screen. Snag is, there is nothing to read on the little screen. I was
never given any instructions for this meter so have no idea how to
prompt it to give me a reading.

The bill wasn't outrageously more than this time last year so is
probably near enough, but I thought "no more estimated readings" was one
of the touted benefits of smart meters. so what's happened?

[steve hague]

Post by Jenny M Benson
Not the same affliction, but my latest bill (from E-on) gave an exact
figure for electricity and an estimated one for gas.  (Why? I wonder.)
Can remember nothing of the instructions I was given for the smart meter
thingy which sits on my hall table, so I just ignore it (apart from
yelling obscenities at it occasionally when I see it flashing red lights
at me just because I had the nerve to put the kettle on).  Went out to
check the gas meter and found it was a completely different one to what
was there last time I looked, which could be quite a long time ago. I
suppose they changed the meter when I went smart?
Well, the problem was that the new meter looks very impressive, all
white with lots of numbered buttons in different colours and a little
screen.  Snag is, there is nothing to read on the little screen.  I was
never given any instructions for this meter so have no idea how to
prompt it to give me a reading.
The bill wasn't outrageously more than this time last year so is
probably near enough, but I thought "no more estimated readings" was one
of the touted benefits of smart meters. so what's happened?

I had a lengthy message from my energy provider (OVO) explaining how
much better life would be if I had a smart meter, pointing out all the
advantages. It would be an installation which would cost me nothing, and
save me money in the future. I replied "All right, I'll have one. When
can you fit it?" I was then asked for my post code. I supplied it, and
the next message informed me that unfortunately they couldn't provide
this service at this time. Algorithms, eh? What would we do without them.
Steve

[Vicky Ayech]

On Thu, 24 Jun 2021 11:04:57 +0100, steve hague

Post by steve hague

Post by Jenny M Benson
Not the same affliction, but my latest bill (from E-on) gave an exact
figure for electricity and an estimated one for gas.  (Why? I wonder.)
Can remember nothing of the instructions I was given for the smart meter
thingy which sits on my hall table, so I just ignore it (apart from
yelling obscenities at it occasionally when I see it flashing red lights
at me just because I had the nerve to put the kettle on).  Went out to
check the gas meter and found it was a completely different one to what
was there last time I looked, which could be quite a long time ago. I
suppose they changed the meter when I went smart?
Well, the problem was that the new meter looks very impressive, all
white with lots of numbered buttons in different colours and a little
screen.  Snag is, there is nothing to read on the little screen.  I was
never given any instructions for this meter so have no idea how to
prompt it to give me a reading.
The bill wasn't outrageously more than this time last year so is
probably near enough, but I thought "no more estimated readings" was one
of the touted benefits of smart meters. so what's happened?

I had a lengthy message from my energy provider (OVO) explaining how
much better life would be if I had a smart meter, pointing out all the
advantages. It would be an installation which would cost me nothing, and
save me money in the future. I replied "All right, I'll have one. When
can you fit it?" I was then asked for my post code. I supplied it, and
the next message informed me that unfortunately they couldn't provide
this service at this time. Algorithms, eh? What would we do without them.
Steve

Bulb keep telling me I should get one but when I go through booking it
they say not with the gas meter we have as it has a sloping lid.

Incidentally, talking of algorythms, they got our gas consumptionwrong
fromthe start and I said so. They saw readings but estimate every time
we'd spend 2k a year on gas and some estimated readings were on
thatlevel. We've got a 3 bed terrace, 10 years old, double glazed.
We'd need to be supplying the street, We've got CH and very little
oven cooking.

If we send teadings the bill is ok, if they estimate it is way out.
They read 4 times a year as I am OAP etc. I have had several email
exchanges saying fix the nuggering algorythm but they don't seem able
to. Now andthen they say I am not paying enough a month and try and up
it, but I'm usuall a hundred pounds or two in credit. When I tried to
reduce DD it refused to let me online and I had ti email and request.
They are all sorry and we did the complaint thing but it didn't sort
it.

If I do eventually qualify for a smart meter I am now not keen as you
lot said they can fail. I need to see the meter readings.

[Sam Plusnet]

Post by Vicky Ayech
On Thu, 24 Jun 2021 11:04:57 +0100, steve hague

Post by steve hague

Post by Jenny M Benson
Not the same affliction, but my latest bill (from E-on) gave an exact
figure for electricity and an estimated one for gas.  (Why? I wonder.)
Can remember nothing of the instructions I was given for the smart meter
thingy which sits on my hall table, so I just ignore it (apart from
yelling obscenities at it occasionally when I see it flashing red lights
at me just because I had the nerve to put the kettle on).  Went out to
check the gas meter and found it was a completely different one to what
was there last time I looked, which could be quite a long time ago. I
suppose they changed the meter when I went smart?
Well, the problem was that the new meter looks very impressive, all
white with lots of numbered buttons in different colours and a little
screen.  Snag is, there is nothing to read on the little screen.  I was
never given any instructions for this meter so have no idea how to
prompt it to give me a reading.
The bill wasn't outrageously more than this time last year so is
probably near enough, but I thought "no more estimated readings" was one
of the touted benefits of smart meters. so what's happened?

I had a lengthy message from my energy provider (OVO) explaining how
much better life would be if I had a smart meter, pointing out all the
advantages. It would be an installation which would cost me nothing, and
save me money in the future. I replied "All right, I'll have one. When
can you fit it?" I was then asked for my post code. I supplied it, and
the next message informed me that unfortunately they couldn't provide
this service at this time. Algorithms, eh? What would we do without them.
Steve

Bulb keep telling me I should get one but when I go through booking it
they say not with the gas meter we have as it has a sloping lid.
Incidentally, talking of algorythms, they got our gas consumptionwrong
fromthe start and I said so. They saw readings but estimate every time
we'd spend 2k a year on gas and some estimated readings were on
thatlevel. We've got a 3 bed terrace, 10 years old, double glazed.
We'd need to be supplying the street, We've got CH and very little
oven cooking.

'Smart' meters wouldn't work here because of the odd way the house is
constructed.
I supply readings to the supplier each month, & that prevents the
supplier doing too many silly things with my money.
5 minutes work once per month isn't too onerous, and I keep a copy of
the readings so I now have around 5 years worth of history to look back
on to look for changes in consumption.
I think that's much more use than looking at minute-by-minute data
whilst missing the long term picture.

[steve hague]

Post by Sam Plusnet
'Smart' meters wouldn't work here because of the odd way the house is
constructed.
I supply readings to the supplier each month, & that prevents the
supplier doing too many silly things with my money.
5 minutes work once per month isn't too onerous, and I keep a copy of
the readings so I now have around 5 years worth of history to look back
on to look for changes in consumption.
I think that's much more use than looking at minute-by-minute data
whilst missing the long term picture.

I send in my meter readings every month without fail. A few weeks ago I
had an email from OVO reminding me to send in my meter readings, since I
hadn't done so in over a year. I looked at my account on their website,
which said my meter readings were up to date. I contacted them to ask
what was going on, and had a phone call (!) the next day from a young
man with a British accent (Equally !). He said that according to their
records, I hadn't sent them a reading for over a year. He then looked at
my account, and agreed I was up to date. He said he would sort the
matter that day, and indeed he did. A minor inconvenience for me, but I
thought OVO handled it well.
Steve

[BrritSki]

Post by steve hague

Post by Sam Plusnet
'Smart' meters wouldn't work here because of the odd way the house is
constructed.
I supply readings to the supplier each month, & that prevents the
supplier doing too many silly things with my money.
5 minutes work once per month isn't too onerous, and I keep a copy of
the readings so I now have around 5 years worth of history to look
back on to look for changes in consumption.
I think that's much more use than looking at minute-by-minute data
whilst missing the long term picture.

I send in my meter readings every month without fail. A few weeks ago I
had an email from OVO reminding me to send in my meter readings, since I
hadn't done so in over a year. I looked at my account on their website,
which said my meter readings were up to date. I contacted them to ask
what was going on, and had a phone call (!) the next day from a young
man with a British accent (Equally !). He said that according to their
records, I hadn't sent them a reading for over a year. He then looked at
my account, and agreed I was up to date. He said he would sort the
matter that day, and indeed he did. A minor inconvenience for me, but I
thought OVO handled it well.

Talking of handling it well, I paid £3.99 for ITV Hub+ as the blurb said
with that you could download progs and there was something I wanted to
have on my laptop for our forthcoming trip.

It turns out that you can only download to iOS/mobile devices, so I send
a DM on Twitter to them and had an aplogy and full refund in minutes. It
wasn't the amount, just the principle although admittedly it was my
fault for not reading carefully.

I also just renewed my Senior Railcard and opted for the digital
version. Payment was accepted ("Do you think paying for 3 years is wise
at your age Sir?") and a receipt emailed.

No download code was forthcoming, so the next day I looked into it and
found the download code online and applied it in the errrm app.
"Success, click here to see your railcards" but railcards were there none.
Repeated the exercise, reinstalled app, restarted phone etc. Nothing
worked so again a DM on Twitter to ask for help which was very quick to
reply, asked for some details, and soon replied that the token was
corrupted so I was given a refund (Note: must check) and bough the SRC
again through the app. this time and success...

I don't use Twitter normally but DMs there are the best way I've found
to get quick results. Works with EasyJet too who are fantastic at
Customer Service as it would seem are ITV and Railcard.

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

On Fri, 25 Jun 2021 at 08:48:31, BrritSki <***@gmail.com>
wrote (my responses usually follow points raised):
[]

Post by BrritSki
I also just renewed my Senior Railcard and opted for the digital
version. Payment was accepted ("Do you think paying for 3 years is wise
at your age Sir?") and a receipt emailed.

Did it really ask that?!?
[]

Post by BrritSki
I don't use Twitter normally but DMs there are the best way I've found
to get quick results. Works with EasyJet too who are fantastic at
Customer Service as it would seem are ITV and Railcard.

Do you go to DM immediately, or start with a public tweet? For the
little I've used Twitter in this way, I've found a public tweet is more
likely to elicit a response than an email (assuming you've found an
address - they're like hen's teeth these days [and similarly hard to
extract!]) or webform, but I haven't tried DMing from the start.

[BrritSki]

Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
[]

Post by BrritSki
I also just renewed my Senior Railcard and opted for the digital
version. Payment was accepted ("Do you think paying for 3 years is
wise at your age Sir?") and a receipt emailed.

Did it really ask that?!?

Of course not, it was a joke, just as McToodles moorish dates was
deliberate. Wasn't there once an acronym something like Always Assume An
Umrat's Humour is intentional ?

Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
[]

Post by BrritSki
I don't use Twitter normally but DMs there are the best way I've found
to get quick results. Works with EasyJet too who are fantastic at
Customer Service as it would seem are ITV and Railcard.

Do you go to DM immediately, or start with a public tweet?

With EasyJet, the first time it was a public tweet but they directed me
to a DM as they wanted some personal info to investigate, so now I just
go straight to DM as they will inevitably need to know some stuff I
don't want to make public.

[Vicky Ayech]

On Fri, 25 Jun 2021 15:54:01 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"

Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
[]

Post by BrritSki
I also just renewed my Senior Railcard and opted for the digital
version. Payment was accepted ("Do you think paying for 3 years is wise
at your age Sir?") and a receipt emailed.

Did it really ask that?!?
[]

Post by BrritSki
I don't use Twitter normally but DMs there are the best way I've found
to get quick results. Works with EasyJet too who are fantastic at
Customer Service as it would seem are ITV and Railcard.

Do you go to DM immediately, or start with a public tweet? For the
little I've used Twitter in this way, I've found a public tweet is more
likely to elicit a response than an email (assuming you've found an
address - they're like hen's teeth these days [and similarly hard to
extract!]) or webform, but I haven't tried DMing from the start.

Yes, I've found with Tesco, Morrisons and Amazon a public tweet gets
me a response quite fast and often a link to contact and action.

[BrritSki]

Post by Sam Plusnet
I supply readings to the supplier each month, & that prevents the
supplier doing too many silly things with my money.
5 minutes work once per month isn't too onerous, and I keep a copy of
the readings so I now have around 5 years worth of history to look back
on to look for changes in consumption.
I think that's much more use than looking at minute-by-minute data
whilst missing the long term picture.

<languid wave> except that my data only goes back for the 2.5 years
we've been here. All neatly tabulated in a spreadsheet of course....

I also save the pictures I take, so if there's ever a dispute...

[John Armstrong]

On Fri, 25 Jun 2021 08:40:09 +0100, BrritSki

Post by BrritSki

Post by Sam Plusnet
I supply readings to the supplier each month, & that prevents the
supplier doing too many silly things with my money.
5 minutes work once per month isn't too onerous, and I keep a copy of
the readings so I now have around 5 years worth of history to look back
on to look for changes in consumption.
I think that's much more use than looking at minute-by-minute data
whilst missing the long term picture.

<languid wave> except that my data only goes back for the 2.5 years
we've been here. All neatly tabulated in a spreadsheet of course....
I also save the pictures I take, so if there's ever a dispute...

Very wise. I don't take pics, but I read my electric meters on the
first of every month. I have two, one for offpeak heating, one for
everything else.

I put the readings into a spreadsheet which I have set up to show the
monthly cost, and the usage over the previous 12 months. As you say, 5
minutes a month, and the info is all there. If there ever were a
dispute, I think this evidence would help. It also means I can easily
check that my supplier is charging me a fair monthly DD.

I cannot have a smart meter (thank goodness - wouldn't have one in a
gift!) as I have radio-controlled offpeak heating. That of course does
have its own problems as well as its benefits.

[Mike McMillan]

Post by John Armstrong
On Fri, 25 Jun 2021 08:40:09 +0100, BrritSki

Post by BrritSki

Post by Sam Plusnet
I supply readings to the supplier each month, & that prevents the
supplier doing too many silly things with my money.
5 minutes work once per month isn't too onerous, and I keep a copy of
the readings so I now have around 5 years worth of history to look back
on to look for changes in consumption.
I think that's much more use than looking at minute-by-minute data
whilst missing the long term picture.

<languid wave> except that my data only goes back for the 2.5 years
we've been here. All neatly tabulated in a spreadsheet of course....
I also save the pictures I take, so if there's ever a dispute...

Very wise. I don't take pics, but I read my electric meters on the
first of every month. I have two, one for offpeak heating, one for
everything else.
I put the readings into a spreadsheet which I have set up to show the
monthly cost, and the usage over the previous 12 months. As you say, 5
minutes a month, and the info is all there. If there ever were a
dispute, I think this evidence would help. It also means I can easily
check that my supplier is charging me a fair monthly DD.
I cannot have a smart meter (thank goodness - wouldn't have one in a
gift!) as I have radio-controlled offpeak heating. That of course does
have its own problems as well as its benefits.

Just shove another log on the fire will you? Oh! And have you ordered some
more candles, it’s rather dark at night outside in the khazi?

[Sam Plusnet]

Post by BrritSki

Post by Sam Plusnet
I supply readings to the supplier each month, & that prevents the
supplier doing too many silly things with my money.
5 minutes work once per month isn't too onerous, and I keep a copy of
the readings so I now have around 5 years worth of history to look
back on to look for changes in consumption.
I think that's much more use than looking at minute-by-minute data
whilst missing the long term picture.

<languid wave> except that my data only goes back for the 2.5 years
we've been here. All neatly tabulated in a spreadsheet of course....
I also save the pictures I take, so if there's ever a dispute...

I still use pen & paper, but to correct my earlier post - The readings
cover the last 6 years not 5, so it stretches back to pre-woodstove days.

[Min]

Post by Sam Plusnet
I still use pen & paper, but to correct my earlier post - The readings
cover the last 6 years not 5, so it stretches back to pre-woodstove days.
--
Sam Plusnet

"first metal wood-burning stove is said to have been invented in
16th-century Europe". I'm Very Impressed, Sam!

[Mike McMillan]

Post by Min

Post by Sam Plusnet
I still use pen & paper, but to correct my earlier post - The readings
cover the last 6 years not 5, so it stretches back to pre-woodstove days.
--
Sam Plusnet

"first metal wood-burning stove is said to have been invented in
16th-century Europe". I'm Very Impressed, Sam!

He was writing to an old flame I think.

[Sam Plusnet]

Post by Mike McMillan

Post by Min

Post by Sam Plusnet
I still use pen & paper, but to correct my earlier post - The readings
--
Sam Plusnet

"first metal wood-burning stove is said to have been invented in
16th-century Europe". I'm Very Impressed, Sam!

They tried for centuries to perfect the wooden wood-burning stove, but
there were snags.

Post by Mike McMillan
He was writing to an old flame I think.

A new use for the captain's log.

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

On Thu, 24 Jun 2021 at 11:04:57, steve hague <***@gmail.com>
wrote (my responses usually follow points raised):
[]

Post by steve hague

kettle on).  Went out to check the gas meter and found it was a
completely different one to what was there last time I looked, which
could be quite a long time ago. I suppose they changed the meter when
I went smart?

Yes, they would. (I take it from "went out" that you mean it's outside
your premises, or at least accessible therefrom.)

Post by steve hague

Well, the problem was that the new meter looks very impressive, all
white with lots of numbered buttons in different colours and a little
screen.  Snag is, there is nothing to read on the little screen.  I
was never given any instructions for this meter so have no idea how
to prompt it to give me a reading.

(Hmm. I think you should have been. Maybe they're online at your
supplier. [Or - if you've got the patience {and a cordless handset} -
ring them up and ask how to take a reading; I assume they have to tell
you.])

They have electronics in them, so need electrical power. Though the
electric meter can get at some, the gas meter can't - so it has a
battery - to work as a smart meter, which it does by sending the
readings to the electric one.

The battery is supposed to last about ten years; to achieve that, even
powering the display continuously would take too much power - that's
what I was told, anyway. (It's also why you'll probably find the
in-house gadget isn't updated for gas as often as for the electric; it
doesn't take readings so often.

You can wake up the display by pressing buttons in a given sequence.

Post by steve hague

The bill wasn't outrageously more than this time last year so is
probably near enough, but I thought "no more estimated readings" was
one of the touted benefits of smart meters. so what's happened?

At a guess, the battery (in the gas meter) has run down early.

Post by steve hague
I had a lengthy message from my energy provider (OVO) explaining how
much better life would be if I had a smart meter, pointing out all the

I get really cross when they claim that just having them saves me money,
though.

Post by steve hague
advantages. It would be an installation which would cost me nothing,
and save me money in the future. I replied "All right, I'll have one.
When can you fit it?" I was then asked for my post code. I supplied it,
and the next message informed me that unfortunately they couldn't
provide this service at this time. Algorithms, eh? What would we do
without them.
Steve

I accepted them for one place, for the benefit that I wouldn't have to
be there when they wanted to read. Unfortunately, they (It was someone
pretending to be M&S; I can't remember whether it was before or after
the pretender switched from sse to Octopus) fitted the earlier type of
smart meter, meaning if I switch suppliers, there's a high chance it
won't work with the new supplier. (I can still switch - I'm pretty sure
that's protected by law - but I'd probably end up being back at dumb
metering, i. e. having to be there to let them in to read.) There's in
theory the option to change them to the more modern
(work-with-any-supplier) type, but I was just thinking about getting
this sorted when CoViD came in, and they're not doing any such upgrades
for now; even in "normal" times, there's nothing in it for them, so I
don't think they'll exactly hurry.

[Mike McMillan]

Post by steve hague

Post by Jenny M Benson
Not the same affliction, but my latest bill (from E-on) gave an exact
figure for electricity and an estimated one for gas.  (Why? I wonder.)
Can remember nothing of the instructions I was given for the smart meter
thingy which sits on my hall table, so I just ignore it (apart from
yelling obscenities at it occasionally when I see it flashing red lights
at me just because I had the nerve to put the kettle on).  Went out to
check the gas meter and found it was a completely different one to what
was there last time I looked, which could be quite a long time ago. I
suppose they changed the meter when I went smart?
Well, the problem was that the new meter looks very impressive, all
white with lots of numbered buttons in different colours and a little
screen.  Snag is, there is nothing to read on the little screen.  I was
never given any instructions for this meter so have no idea how to
prompt it to give me a reading.
The bill wasn't outrageously more than this time last year so is
probably near enough, but I thought "no more estimated readings" was one
of the touted benefits of smart meters. so what's happened?

I had a lengthy message from my energy provider (OVO) explaining how
much better life would be if I had a smart meter, pointing out all the
advantages. It would be an installation which would cost me nothing, and
save me money in the future. I replied "All right, I'll have one. When
can you fit it?" I was then asked for my post code. I supplied it, and
the next message informed me that unfortunately they couldn't provide
this service at this time. Algorithms, eh? What would we do without them.
Steve

Suffer from irregular periods?

[Mike McMillan]

Post by Jenny M Benson

Post by Mike Ruddock
Our house was fitted with a so-caled smart meter a few years ago.
although it was telling me the electricity consumption, there was no
info about the gas. After fiddling with it for a while with no result I
went to look at the "real" gas meter. That also was giviung no reading
for gas consumption.
I contacted Gritish Bas and they investigated remotely and agreed that
there was a problem which they would sort.
Yesterday, things still being thus this way, I contacted BG again,
pointing out to them that it is surely illegal if a consumer cannot find
out how much he is consuminmg. Again I was told to leave it to them.
Until this is fixed presumably they will be making estimates about my
consumption.
Is anybody else thus afflicted?

Not the same affliction, but my latest bill (from E-on) gave an exact
figure for electricity and an estimated one for gas. (Why? I wonder.)
Can remember nothing of the instructions I was given for the smart meter
thingy which sits on my hall table, so I just ignore it (apart from
yelling obscenities at it occasionally when I see it flashing red lights
at me just because I had the nerve to put the kettle on). Went out to
check the gas meter and found it was a completely different one to what
was there last time I looked, which could be quite a long time ago. I
suppose they changed the meter when I went smart?
Well, the problem was that the new meter looks very impressive, all
white with lots of numbered buttons in different colours and a little
screen. Snag is, there is nothing to read on the little screen. I was
never given any instructions for this meter so have no idea how to
prompt it to give me a reading.
The bill wasn't outrageously more than this time last year so is
probably near enough, but I thought "no more estimated readings" was one
of the touted benefits of smart meters. so what's happened?

We were given to understand that the gas meter is able to communicate with
the electricity meter and this is where the data is kept until transmitted
to our supplier via some form of internet connection. The gas meter has a
battery to power it as there is no external power for it to connect into.
At intervals, the gas meter ‘phones’ the electricity meter and passes on
the data; this information is later fed ‘down the pipe’ to our supplier
along with the electricity consumption details. I haven’t looked at the gas
meter to see what if anything is displayed on it though. There is a lot of
information displayed on the electricity meter but, it seems to glow green
every so often (unbidden by us) but not for long enough for me to ever read
what it says. I don’t even know how often the display lights up or why - if
there is a pattern or schedule to the illumination times, I know not what
of it.

[Penny]

On Thu, 24 Jun 2021 10:17:03 +0100, Mike Ruddock

Post by Mike Ruddock
Our house was fitted with a so-caled smart meter a few years ago.
although it was telling me the electricity consumption, there was no
info about the gas. After fiddling with it for a while with no result I
went to look at the "real" gas meter. That also was giviung no reading
for gas consumption.
I contacted Gritish Bas and they investigated remotely and agreed that
there was a problem which they would sort.
Yesterday, things still being thus this way, I contacted BG again,
pointing out to them that it is surely illegal if a consumer cannot find
out how much he is consuminmg. Again I was told to leave it to them.
Until this is fixed presumably they will be making estimates about my
consumption.
Is anybody else thus afflicted?

Mine stopped reporting usage to me on the In Home Display 6 months after it
was fitted. I reported this on the website (I'm with Bulb) and can see from
my bills that the gas reading was restored almost immediately - to them. An
exchange of emails gave me instructions to get the IHD showing the gas to
me but it still won't tell them, or display to me, the electric readings.

Exchanges of emails continued through last year and the 'hub' was remotely
rebooted several times.

I find reading the electric meter difficult, I take a photo of it but the
little screen deep in a huge box only really shows well in photos if its
back-light is on, and this involves pressing buttons and waiting for it to
sort itself out, probably not helped by the intervention of the solar input
which disrupts the display. So I stopped reading it and sending it in.
Someone came and read both meters this spring.

Both meters have worked throughout in doing the actual measuring and I
registered a complaint on the anniversary of the first report which just
started an email exchange which probably won't get me anywhere. The
electric meter is still not talking to anyone.

Incidently, my broadband dropped out yesterday and I followed the
instructions which popped up in my browser. When it was all working again,
the report onscreen listed 4 devices which were connected to it. I didn't
recognise two of them but figured out one is probably my newish satellite
TV box and the other is my smart meter. I'd been led to believe the meter
hub used telephone networks, not my local wifi. How do smart meters
communicate if the household has no wifi?

[Kate B]

Post by Penny
On Thu, 24 Jun 2021 10:17:03 +0100, Mike Ruddock

Post by Mike Ruddock
Our house was fitted with a so-caled smart meter a few years ago.
although it was telling me the electricity consumption, there was no
info about the gas. After fiddling with it for a while with no result I
went to look at the "real" gas meter. That also was giviung no reading
for gas consumption.
I contacted Gritish Bas and they investigated remotely and agreed that
there was a problem which they would sort.
Yesterday, things still being thus this way, I contacted BG again,
pointing out to them that it is surely illegal if a consumer cannot find
out how much he is consuminmg. Again I was told to leave it to them.
Until this is fixed presumably they will be making estimates about my
consumption.
Is anybody else thus afflicted?

Mine stopped reporting usage to me on the In Home Display 6 months after it
was fitted. I reported this on the website (I'm with Bulb) and can see from
my bills that the gas reading was restored almost immediately - to them. An
exchange of emails gave me instructions to get the IHD showing the gas to
me but it still won't tell them, or display to me, the electric readings.
Exchanges of emails continued through last year and the 'hub' was remotely
rebooted several times.
I find reading the electric meter difficult, I take a photo of it but the
little screen deep in a huge box only really shows well in photos if its
back-light is on, and this involves pressing buttons and waiting for it to
sort itself out, probably not helped by the intervention of the solar input
which disrupts the display. So I stopped reading it and sending it in.
Someone came and read both meters this spring.
Both meters have worked throughout in doing the actual measuring and I
registered a complaint on the anniversary of the first report which just
started an email exchange which probably won't get me anywhere. The
electric meter is still not talking to anyone.
Incidently, my broadband dropped out yesterday and I followed the
instructions which popped up in my browser. When it was all working again,
the report onscreen listed 4 devices which were connected to it. I didn't
recognise two of them but figured out one is probably my newish satellite
TV box and the other is my smart meter. I'd been led to believe the meter
hub used telephone networks, not my local wifi. How do smart meters
communicate if the household has no wifi?

They use a mobile phone network, and some need to do this even if the
house has wifi. I don't know which network, but the lack of any reliable
phone signal in our basement where our current stupid (but legible)
meters are meant that we couldn't have them even if we'd wanted them,
which was not.

[Nick Odell]

Post by Kate B

Post by Penny
On Thu, 24 Jun 2021 10:17:03 +0100, Mike Ruddock

Post by Mike Ruddock
Our house was fitted with a so-caled smart meter a few years ago.
although it was telling me the electricity consumption, there was no
info about the gas. After fiddling with it for a while with no result I
went to look at the "real" gas meter. That also was giviung no reading
for gas consumption.
I contacted Gritish Bas and they investigated remotely and agreed that
there was a problem which they would sort.
Yesterday, things still being thus this way, I contacted BG again,
pointing out to them that it is surely illegal if a consumer cannot find
out how much he is consuminmg. Again I was told to leave it to them.
Until this is fixed presumably they will be making estimates about my
consumption.
Is anybody else thus afflicted?

Mine stopped reporting usage to me on the In Home Display 6 months after it
was fitted. I reported this on the website (I'm with Bulb) and can see from
my bills that the gas reading was restored almost immediately - to them. An
exchange of emails gave me instructions to get the IHD showing the gas to
me but it still won't tell them, or display to me, the electric readings.
Exchanges of emails continued through last year and the 'hub' was remotely
rebooted several times.
I find reading the electric meter difficult, I take a photo of it but the
little screen deep in a huge box only really shows well in photos if its
back-light is on, and this involves pressing buttons and waiting for it to
sort itself out, probably not helped by the intervention of the solar input
which disrupts the display. So I stopped reading it and sending it in.
Someone came and read both meters this spring.
Both meters have worked throughout in doing the actual measuring and I
registered a complaint on the anniversary of the first report which just
started an email exchange which probably won't get me anywhere. The
electric meter is still not talking to anyone.
Incidently, my broadband dropped out yesterday and I followed the
instructions which popped up in my browser. When it was all working again,
the report onscreen listed 4 devices which were connected to it. I didn't
recognise two of them but figured out one is probably my newish satellite
TV box and the other is my smart meter. I'd been led to believe the meter
hub used telephone networks, not my local wifi. How do smart meters
communicate if the household has no wifi?

They use a mobile phone network, and some need to do this even if the
house has wifi. I don't know which network, but the lack of any reliable
phone signal in our basement where our current stupid (but legible)
meters are meant that we couldn't have them even if we'd wanted them,
which was not.

Also "not" over here. There seem to be so many legal issues -
including ones implied in the postings above - which, far from being
on the way to being sorted out, don't seem to even have been taken
into consideration.

Nick